Eve of Judgment

Zhuge, Sakura, and Kushida walked out of the repair shop.

Since there was still time left in their lunch break, they found an outdoor bubble tea shop and sat around a table together.

"It's so hot."

"I'm so thirsty."

Kushida spoke up, "What would you guys like to drink? My treat this time!"

Zhuge Linghao was overjoyed; he quickly scanned the menu and locked onto the two most expensive drinks!

Hehe, I'm going to bleed you dry, Kikyo-chan!

Zhuge Linghao handed one of the drinks to Sakura Airi.

Sakura carefully bowed her head 90 degrees to express her thanks.

Kushida Kikyo said gently to Sakura Airi, "If you don't mind, could you try to talk to us normally? We are classmates, after all!"

Zhuge Linghao waited quietly for Sakura Airi's reply.

Sakura Airi still didn't dare to look anyone in the eye; she kept her head down, staring at her bubble tea and said, "I... I understand. I will try my best."

Kushida Kikyo smiled, "But don't push yourself too hard!"

Then, Kushida Kikyo went to the restroom.

Watching Kushida Kikyo's graceful back as she walked away, Zhuge Linghao couldn't help but wonder if she was planning to vandalize public property again.

Under the sunshade, only Zhuge Linghao and Sakura Airi remained. Neither dared to meet the other's gaze, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.

It ended up turning into this kind of situation.

Sakura Airi glanced at Zhuge Linghao, and Zhuge Linghao looked away.

Zhuge Linghao glanced at Sakura Airi, and Sakura Airi looked away.

After this cycle repeated a few times, Zhuge Linghao curled his toes in his shoes and said, "Sakura-san, is there something you want to say?"

"Th-that... Zhuge-kun, thank you for earlier!"

"Oh, oh! Don't get the wrong idea! I only said that stuff to the clerk—about being your boyfriend—on purpose..."

"I... I know."

The worst thing is when the air suddenly goes quiet; the two of them stopped talking again.

After a short while, Zhuge Linghao heard a whisper from Sakura that was as quiet as a mosquito.

"Zh-Zhuge-kun, what do you think I should do?"

"Huh? Do about what?"

"Just... about that violent incident you guys were involved in..."

"Oh! That. I think it's better if you don't ask me, since I'm one of the participants..."

"But..."

"Just do it the way you want to. Whether you end up regretting it or feeling sorry later, it doesn't matter."

"Isn't youth only perfect because it's filled with imperfections?"

Sakura stared blankly at the black-haired boy in front of her: "Zhuge-kun..."

After another moment, Sakura's face flushed slightly, and she said, "Th-that, if it's okay with you, c-can we exchange contact information?"

Now that you mention that, I'm all ears! Zhuge Linghao's mouth curled into a smirk instantly.

Kushida held up a cute pink parasol and said, "I'm back. It's getting late, let's head our separate ways."

Then, she leaned in close to Zhuge Linghao's ear and whispered, "A word, if you please."

"I was just about to talk to you about something too, Kushida."

"What is it?"

Zhuge Linghao pulled out his phone and said, "Take a look at these photos..."

Kushida Kikyo covered her mouth in shock, "Oh my, these are photos of Sakura-san. So you're a pervert after all!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't lose sight of the main point here!"

Kushida Kikyo pressed a finger to her lips and said, "Did you notice, Zhuge-kun? Sakura usually wears those decorative glasses!"

Zhuge Linghao ran a hand through his hair, "Yeah, non-prescription lenses. It's very unnatural."

The clever Kushida Kikyo offered her insight, "Could it be that she's hiding her true face? Is that why she refuses to step forward and testify?"

Before Zhuge Linghao could answer, the phone in his pocket vibrated.

"Ding-dong!"

Zhuge Linghao had just gotten Sakura Airi's contact information, and he immediately received a message from her.

After reading the content of the message, Zhuge Linghao smiled. This was in the bag.

Judgment Day, a certain conference room.

As soon as Zhuge Linghao entered the room, his gaze was drawn to the upright figure in the center; Student Council President Horikita Manabu had actually arrived!

At the same time, Zhuge Linghao shifted his gaze toward Horikita Suzune, the corners of his mouth curling higher and higher!

Look closely at Horikita Suzune's expression, it's hilarious!

Zhuge Linghao secretly activated recording mode!

In his mind, he could practically see the process of a tigress gradually turning into a kitten.

The meeting reached its halfway point, and during the intermission, everyone was free to move about.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at Zhuge Linghao and said, "What's wrong with you? Are you too nervous to speak?"

Zhuge Linghao's mouth moved as he said, "..."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wore a confused expression and continued, "I didn't catch that, could you speak up?"

Zhuge Linghao's eyes were slightly red, his mouth moving as he said, "..."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka returned to his deadpan expression and said, "Still don't understand what you mean."

Zhuge Linghao's eyes were slightly red, he was panting like an ox, his mouth moving as he said, "..."

About two hours later, the judgment hearing finally came to a close.

Horikita Manabu delivered the final verdict, and the disciplinary results were as follows:

[First-year Class C students Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yego, and Kondo Suzune are expelled!

First-year Class D students Sudo Ken and Zhuge Linghao are expelled!]

A few days before Judgment Day, during lunch break.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune were on their way back to the dorms when Ayanokoji Kiyotaka picked up his phone to check a message.

Then, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stopped in his tracks and said, "It seems we need to change our destination; Zhuge and the others found Sakura at the electronics store."

Horikita Suzune turned around efficiently and said, "Let's go, to the Special Building."

Special Building, at the corner of the third-floor staircase.

Ayanokoji unbuttoned his jacket and said, "The weather is getting hotter; summer vacation must be coming soon."

Horikita scanned the surrounding objects and environment, saying, "The heatwave really does affect one's judgment."

Ayanokoji unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt and said, "This place really qualifies as the best spot for a frame-up. Well? Have you thought of a good plan?"

Horikita was silent for a moment before answering, "I'm thinking about it. If only we could find some decisive evidence."

Ayanokoji looked at the empty space and said, "Come to think of it, there really is nothing here; there isn't even a surveillance camera."

Horikita replied coldly, "If there were surveillance, that would be equivalent to having concrete evidence."

Ayanokoji said with a deadpan face, "That's true."

Horikita walked closer to Ayanokoji and said, "Speaking of which, if we had something like that from the start, we wouldn't have had to run around so hard."

Suddenly, Horikita Suzune's body trembled; she had thought of a viable plan.

She said coldly, "There is a method I want to try seriously; you will cooperate with me."

When Zhuge Linghao received the message from Sakura Airi, Kushida Kikyo also received a message from Ayanokoji.

Kushida Kikyo looked at Zhuge Linghao with a face full of confusion and said, "Ayanokoji wants me to call those three punks from Class C to the Special Building after school this afternoon?"

Kushida Kikyo said with a worried look, "They aren't going to get into another fight, are they?"

[You're asking me, but who am I supposed to ask!]

Zhuge Linghao did not answer Kushida Kikyo's question.

Instead, he picked up his phone and handed it to Kushida Kikyo to look at: "That guy Ayanokoji also asked me to go to the electronics store right now and buy him a few fake cameras? What is the meaning of this?"

Zhuge Linghao and Kushida Kikyo looked at each other, truly unable to figure out what kind of trouble Ayanokoji and Horikita were trying to stir up.